Caring for your new Mastiff
Caring for your new Mastiff takes lots of work!! Like any new puppy, there are certain things you need before your new puppy comes home. First, make sure your vet has the appropriate facilities and knowledge to handle your Mastiff when he is 200 pounds or more. Mastiffs are a bit different from other dogs because of their size and strength. Make sure your vet is staffed to help with the lifting, etc as well. Make sure you find a great vet that does his own emergencies, and that you can get ahold of him/her 24/7 if the need arrises. If the vet that you are visiting with seems as if he does not have the time to give to you with your questions do you think he has the time to take proper care of your baby? What type of anestesia does he use? This is very important!!
I do recomend crate training until your new pup is house broken and knows what he can and can not chew on. When in the crate don't give in to his winning and cries. It will make it worst the next time! I promise! Don't give in for a few days and he'll stop and get used to it. Our babies come crate trainned already. Do leave a radio or tv playing so the pup has some noise at all times. This does help him from feeling lonely when you are not at home. Don't leave your new pup alone for long periods of time.
Feeding your new mastiff can be a little tricky too. I recommend feeding Diamond 60+ formula large breed mixed with Diamond Premium. I have to have it shipped in for me. Check with your local feed or pet store for avaliability.
Basic taining should start right away. Start with a collar to get your pup used to it if it is not already. Then go to a leash. Never yank your puppy!! Always treat them how you would want to be treated. Kind and gentle. The normal house hold graces should be shown right away as well. No steeling of food, sit, down, stay whatever you want to teach your pup to do, now is the time. Make sure you put your hands in the food bowl when he/she is eating, cut toe nails often and just handle them on a regular bases. It really is hard to hold a 200 pound dog still while you are paying your vet and two of his nurses to cut his toe nails!! Mess with his mouth, ears, rump, underbelly parts every part of your mastiff should be touched every day to ensure he is relaxed with you doing this. If your puppy should object to any part of this be firm but patient and let him know that it is okay for you to be doing this to him. If he or she shows aggression the best thing to do is to act like their mother would act if they did that to her. Put them to the ground on thier back, stare right at them to let them know you are very serious and make growling noises and dont let him up until he completly summits!! This may seem harsh to some but his mother would bite him pretty hard and let him know very fast that is not the appropriate behavior. Do not hurt him while doing this. This is not to harm him in any way!! Make sure you raise a fuss and let him know that is not acceptable!! When he has summited then let him go and ignore him for a short while then act like nothing happened. That is how his mother would do him. You are now his mother so please act like it. A 200 pound aggressive dog is uncontrolable!! Mastiffs are not usually aggressive though!!
Excersizing your Mastiff pup can also be tricky. Too much or too little are both dangerous. The puppy's normal play is suffecient for exersize. Never push him or her and never go on long walks or up steep hills etc. nothing extreme. Don't let your puppy get too excited and do too much running around though.
With toys be careful what you choose. A Mastiff can chew things up in a matter of a minute or two. Get pretty sturdy toys for him or her to play with and chew on and make sure anything they tear up will not harm them in any way. After a toy is torn up throw it away as soon as you realize it is damaged to prevent problems with him swallowing parts.
Your puppy needs regular health exams and shots for his and your protection. We reccomend your 6 week puppy shots, 9 week puppy shots 12 week pups shots then nothing until 6 months of age or what ever your state recommends for the final shots and Rabies. After this titer tests can be preformed to see where your dog is at and to let you know if he or she needs any boosters. Texas gives the first Rabies at 4 months then again a year later then every 3 years later on every other Rabies. Do deworm your dog regularly according to your vet's recomendations. He or she will know what is common in your area. Heart worm is the second most common killer in dogs in Texas. I strongly recommend you preventing heartworms. There are many ways to do this. Check in your area for the best way for you and your dog.
As with other large breeds the Mastiff breed is prone to many differant diseases and problems. Hip and elbow dysplasia and bloat to name a couple. Again do your research. MCOA has great information. Know the symptoms to look for so you can get your dog in early. I recommend ALL Mastiffs be pet or breeding get a full exam and x-rayed for hip, elbow, cerf, thyroid, just to make sure your guy or girl is fine and if there are any problems early on you can start treatment early so old age will be a little kinder.
Socialization is very important to your Mastiff pup. Get him or her out in the public as often as possible. Then double that!! This is very important!! If you want to be able to have people over with out having your dog fending them away then socialize them. Think how little dogs act that don't see people much and you come over. Now quadrouple that for a Mastiff!
I hope this information has helped you a bit. There is plenty of information on Mastiffs out there. Please research as much as you can. Ask if you have questions. I want to make sure that all Mastiffs have a fair chance of having a wonderful home. The way to do so is to insure that you know everything you can on them to make the right decision. To own or not to own a Mastiff??